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Provision of adequate and appropriate housing for all residents is essential to building strong neighborhoods. The City of Fort Worth’s key housing goals are increasing the supply of quality affordable accessible housing; expanding homeownership opportunities; revitalizing neighborhoods; creating mixed-income communities; and better aligning housing choice options with multimodal transportation opportunities, as typically occurs in Transit-Oriented Development.
Over the past ten years, the Fort Worth housing market has been characterized by:
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TOTAL HOUSING STOCK
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, 2015-2019.
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Source: North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), 2020.
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| 57.4% | Owner Occupied |
| 42.6% | Renter Occupied |
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, 2015-2019; City of Fort Worth, Development Services Department, 2021.
New home construction in the $200s steadily decreased between 2011 and 2020, which is indicative of several factors, including increased construction costs, escalating land values, higher profit margins, and consumer preference for larger homes with more amenities.
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Source: Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, 2020.
The price per square-foot for single-family housing sales increased by close to 120 percent between 2011 and 2020. Land appreciation is the primary contributor to housing price increases. The map to the right reflects price per square-foot changes over a nine year period for single-family sales, except for Zip Code 76102 (downtown area) which reflects condominium sales.
| $57.20 | $124.77 | 118.1% |
|---|---|---|
| PER SQUARE-FOOT IN 2011 | PER SQUARE-FOOT IN 2020 | INCREASE |
Source: Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, 2020.
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Source: Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University 2020, and Planning & Data Analytics Department, 2021.
| 100,936 | 656 |
| INVENTORY UNITS | EXISTING BUILDINGS |
| 887 | $1,113 |
| AVERAGE SQUARE FEET | MARKET RENT |
Source: CoStar Group, Fort Worth, 2020.
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■ $0 - $21,420 ■ $21,420 - $35,700 ■ $35,700 - $57,120 ■ $57,120 - $85,680 ■ $85,680 +
Source: HUD, Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy, 2013-2017, and Income Limits, 2017.
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■ Completions ■ Absorptions
Source: CoStar Group, Fort Worth, 2020.
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, 2015-2019.
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■ Median Rent — Annual Rent Change
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, 2015-2019.
Booming population and employment growth in north Texas and Fort Worth have created strong pressures on the local housing market in recent years, increasing home prices and apartment rents to the point that middle and lower income households often have difficulty finding quality affordable housing that meets their needs. This is particularly true for families or individuals with limited income potential, including the elderly, persons with disabilities, and lower-skilled members of the workforce.
Though a number of federally supported and locally administered housing programs exist to provide assistance to these populations, resources are limited for addressing Fort Worth’s growing housing affordability challenge. Fort Worth Housing Solutions, local non-profits, private sector affordable housing developers, and the City’s Neighborhood Services Department work together to develop effective partnerships and leverage additional resources, while addressing the City Council’s highest priority housing goals.
The City’s affordable housing policies and programs are primarily directed toward expanding affordable housing opportunities while serving residents with the greatest need, including the homeless, very low income homeowners living on fixed incomes, and lower income renters.
| Occupation | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Nursing Assistants | $29,610 |
| Bank Tellers | $32,400 |
| Construction Laborers | $34,390 |
| Emergency Medical Technicians & Paramedics | $36,580 |
| Electricians | $50,390 |
| Postal Service Clerks | $52,410 |
| Clergy | $53,590 |
| Kindergarten Teachers (Except Special Education) | $55,290 |
| Chefs and Head Cooks | $57,150 |
| Firefighters | $60,560 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, MSA, 2020.
| AFFORDABLE HOUSING | Generally, a single-family home or apartment occupied by a household that pays 30 percent or less of its gross income toward its mortgage or rent. The term is also widely used to refer to housing that is subsidized or rent-regulated and that is occupied by a household that is "low-income". |
| ATTAINABLE HOUSING | A relatively new term that is defined as non-subsidized, for-sale housing that is affordable to households with incomes between 80 and 120 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI). |
| HOUSING AFFORDABILITY | Refers to the ability, or the lack thereof, of a household to meet its housing expenses with a reasonable and sustainable share of its income, generally spending no more than 30 percent of gross income on housing costs, without regard to the household's income or whether the household lives in subsidized, rent-regulated, or market-rate housing. |
| WORKFORCE HOUSING | Generally, housing that is "affordable" to households earning between 60 and 120 percent of AMI, and historically associated with housing in close proximity to a specific industry. |
Source: Urban Land Institute, Terwilliger Center for Housing.
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AMI is the median household income of each metropolitan statistical area (MSA) adjusted for family size, which is also known as Median Family Income (MFI). The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development publishes AMIs annually. AMI is used to determine the eligibility of applicants for most housing assistance programs.
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1/2 of households make less than the median
Fort Worth MFI The median income is the income in middle
1/2 of households make more than the median
DALLAS-FORT WORTH METRO
AUSTIN - ROUND ROCK
HOUSTON - THE WOODLANDS-SUGARLAND
SAN ANTONIO - NEW BRAUNFELS
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TEXAS
NATIONAL
Source: HUD, Income Limits, 2020.
| Fort Worth Arlington HUD Metropolitan Area | $81,500 | Monthly Housing Affordability * |
|---|---|---|
| Below 30% MFI Extremely Low Income | ≤ $24,450 | ≤ $611 |
| 30%–50% MFI Very Low Income | $24,450–$40,750 | $611–$1,019 |
| 50%–80% MFI Low Income | $40,750–$65,200 | $1,019–$1,630 |
| 80%–120% MFI Moderate Income | $65,200–$97,800 | $1,630–$2,445 |
| 120%-250% MFI Middle Income | $97,800-$203,750 | $2,445-$5,094 |
| 250% and Up MFI High Income | ≥ $203,750 | ≥ $5,094 |
*Based on 30 percent of monthly income.
Source: HUD, Income Limits, 2020.
Housing costs are increasing faster than incomes in Fort Worth, as is the case elsewhere in the country. According to the Fort Worth Housing Solutions 2018 Annual Report, home prices jumped 57 percent and average rents rose from 20 to 40 percent (depending upon unit size) in the past five years. Middle-income to lower-income households are effectively priced out of today’s housing market. Nearly one-third of the city’s households earns less than half of the annual median income of $75,200. An affordable rent for a family of three at this income level is $846, but the rent now averages $1,100 for a two-bedroom unit. The need is greatest for the city’s lowest-income households. Fort Worth has a shortage of 23,420 units that would be affordable for people earning less than 30 percent AMI.
Rising home prices make homeownership less affordable to everyone, but they have a particular impact on people who are interested in buying a home for the first time. There are fewer homes available in the affordable ‘starter home’ segment of the market and, as a result, first-time homebuyers either delay a purchase or buy a home that causes them to be more cost-burdened.
Between 2011 and 2019, new housing costs rose 67% higher than household income.
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Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, 2015-2019, Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, 2020.
Between 2011 and 2019, homes under $150,000 went from 67.1 percent of the market to 6.9 percent of the market. The rapid pace of cost increases underscores the urgency of dealing with the overall issue of affordable housing. In order to encourage first-time homebuyers to locate in Fort Worth, actions to assist them should be considered.
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Source: Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, 2020.
Affordability measures the extent to which enough rental housing units of different costs can provide each renter household with a unit it can afford (based on the 30-percent-of-income standard). Affordability, which is the broadest measure of the relative supply of the housing stock, addresses whether sufficient housing units would exist if allocated solely on the basis of cost. The affordable stock includes both vacant and occupied units.
Many affordable rental units that were once priced for lower income households have been upgraded with newer amenities and priced higher to attract higher income households. The result is more households seeking housing public assistance and many households living in overcrowded conditions.
Source: HUD, “Worst Case Housing Needs: 2019 Report to Congress”, June 2020.
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Source: CoStar Group, 2020 and HUD Income Limits, Fort Worth-Arlington Fair Market Rent Area, 2020.
| INDICATOR | EXTENT OF DISPARITY |
|---|---|
| Residential Segregation | The degree of residential segregation for all minority populations in Fort Worth, as measured by the federal dissimilarity index, decreased between 1990 and 2010, from 53 to 45, but it has risen to 49 since 2010. |
| Households Paying > 30% of Income for Housing | While 33% of all Fort Worth households pay over 30% of their gross income for housing, 45% of African-American households pay over 30% of their gross income on housing. |
| Substandard or Overcrowded Housing | An estimated 13,000 Fort Worth households live in overcrowded conditions or substandard housing, i.e. without a complete kitchen or plumbing in their dwelling unit. Of these households, 7,600 or 59% are Hispanic. |
Source: City of Fort Worth Task Force on Race and Culture Report, 2018.
Affordability measures the extent to which enough rental housing units of different costs can provide each renter household with a unit it can afford (based on the 30-percent-of-income standard). Affordability, which is the broadest measure of the relative supply of the housing stock, addresses whether sufficient housing units would exist if allocated solely on the basis of cost. The affordable stock includes both vacant and occupied units.
Many affordable rental units that were once priced for lower income households have been upgraded with newer amenities and priced higher to attract higher income households. The result is more households seeking housing public assistance and many households living in overcrowded conditions.
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| No Burden < 30% | Moderate Burden >30% - <50% | Severe Burden > 50% | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner Occupied | 79.8% | 12.7% | 7.5% |
| Renter Occupied | 54.5% | 23.2% | 22.4% |
| COST BURDEN | Monthly housing costs (including utilities) exceeding 30% of monthly income. |
| SEVERE COST BURDEN | Monthly housing costs (including utilities) exceeding 50% of monthly income. |
| OVERCROWDED | A household is considered to be overcrowded if there is more than one person per room in the housing unit. |
Source: HUD, Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy (CHAS) 2013-2017.
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, 2015-2019.
Based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s biennial American Housing Survey, a housing unit is defined as having severe physical inadequacies if it has any one of the following four problems listed in the table below. In Fort Worth, the majority of substandard housing is located in central city areas with older housing units and lower household incomes. Housing repair programs provided by the City of Fort Worth and other organizations can help reverse the prevalence of substandard housing.
| PLUMBING | Lacking piped hot water or a flush toilet or lacking both bathtub and shower, all for the exclusive use of the unit. |
| HEATING | Having been uncomfortably cold during the past winter for 24 hours or more, or three times for at least 6 hours each, because of faulty heating equipment. |
| ELECTRICAL | Having no electricity or having all of the following three electrical problems:<ul><li>exposed wiring,</li><li>a room with no working wall outlet, and</li><li>three or more blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers in the past 90 days</li></ul> |
| UPKEEP | Having any five of the following six maintenance problems:<ul><li>leaks from outdoors,</li><li>leaks from indoors,</li><li>holes in the floor,</li><li>holes or open cracks in the walls or ceilings,</li><li>more than 1 square-foot of peeling paint or plaster, and</li><li>rodents in the past 90 days</li></ul> |
Source: HUD, “Worst Case Housing Needs: 2019 Report to Congress”, June 2020.
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, 2015-2019.
The condition of older housing stock is an issue of concern for the City. In general, housing condition is directly related to housing age. Without adequate maintenance, older housing stock deteriorates. Most structures begin to need significant repairs 30 years after construction. According to the Census, close to 31 percent of the city’s housing was built prior to 1969. Units with the greatest repair needs are generally in low-income neighborhoods, where households have had fewer resources to perform maintenance.
As illustrated on the following map, older housing is located primarily in the central city, defined area inside Loop 820 with generally lower household incomes and higher poverty rates. These locations also tend to have older streets, sewers, roads and other infrastructure.
Concentrating people with lower incomes in neighborhoods with aging homes and infrastructure adds to the challenges faced by people who need affordable housing. These neighborhoods may have lower quality of life because of aging or inadequate infrastructure and the potential for disinvestment by neighboring property owners. They may be less likely to have the characteristics that support a healthy lifestyle, like parks, sidewalks and access to fresh food.
| 2010 & Later | 9.9% |
| 1990 - 2009 | 35.9% |
| 1970 - 1989 | 23.1% |
| 1969 & Earlier | 31.1% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, 2015-2019.
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 5-Year Estimates, 2015-2019.
Housing policy is influenced by Annual and Five-Year Consolidated Plans, which the City Council adopts for submission to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), as local housing activities have traditionally been funded only through CDBG, HOME, and ESG grants from that federal agency. These HUD-required plans focus primarily on the housing needs of low and moderate-income residents and special needs or homeless populations.
In addressing the City Council's priority for mixed-income housing and dispersion of assisted housing, amendments were made to the City's Consolidated Plan. Changes require a project to meet the following:
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Example of townhomes on Zach Scott Street, Austin, Texas, 2017.
| FOCUS AREAS | |
|---|---|
| MIXED-INCOME /MIXED-USE DEVELOPMEMT | Promoting vibrant mixed-income and mixed-use neighborhoods in downtown, urban villages, and NEZ locations. |
| MISSING MIDDLE | Promotes a range of housing choices to meet market demand for smaller scale housing within neighborhood areas. |
| ASSISTED HOUSING | Public housing that is subsidized by federal and state programs and managed by Fort Worth Housing Solutions. |
| HOMELESSNESS | Persons that are unsheltered or living in emergency shelters, or transitional housing. |
| FAIR HOUSING | The City of Fort Worth's Fair Housing Ordinance aims to ensure equitable treatment of its citizens in securing housing. |
| NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION | Promoting vibrant neighborhoods through the City's Neighborhood Empowerment Zone (NEZ) program. |
Promotion of mixed-income and mixed-use developments has been a trend nationally as well as in Fort Worth in recent years, yielding new development near Downtown and in designated urban villages and neighborhood empowerment zones (NEZs). The West Seventh development is part of the city’s most successful urban village to date. It boasts low vacancy rates for residential units, as well as an energetic vibrancy in a formerly run-down industrial district.
Besides urban villages, other areas with very strong potential for accommodating mixed-income residential development within vibrant mixed-use neighborhoods are identified as Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) sites along the TEX Rail Corridor. Located at planned commuter rail stations all along the corridor, TOD sites are being planned and zoned specifically to accommodate higher density residential projects with mixed-income components — all within walking distance of the commuter rail stations. As these TOD sites develop, they will generate extensive redevelopment opportunities and ultimately create attractive and sought-after neighborhood centers where living, shopping, dining, entertainment, and jobs all can be found just steps from a train station that connects residents to Downtown, DFW Airport, and other job and activity centers.
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The West Seventh development near Downtown provides a walkable environment to live, work, and play.
West 7th Street, Fort Worth.
Missing middle refers to housing that accommodates more people than a single-family home but does not come in the form of a large apartment building. Typically it means anything from a duplex to a small apartment building but, significantly, it is housing that would blend in a residential neighborhood dominated by single-family homes. It’s called “missing middle” because many communities do not have very much of this sort of mid-range housing. As described in the Land Use chapter, missing middle housing can address market demand for smaller scale multifamily housing that is dispersed within and compatible with single-family housing. Missing middle housing provides solutions along a spectrum of affordability to address the mismatch between the available U.S. housing stock and shifting housing preferences, combined with the growing demand for walkability. Below are examples of missing middle housing types:
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Source: Opticos Design, Inc.
Fort Worth Housing Solutions (FWHS) provides rental housing assistance for residents and a portfolio of mixed-income properties with units offered at affordable rental rates as required by federal and state programs such as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, bonds, FHA loans, and other financing tools.
FWHS also manages 5,402 Housing Choice Vouchers allocated by HUD to FWHS, but is only able to use about 4,800 vouchers at any given time based on budget authority. Another 1,499 housing assistance vouchers are provided for chronically homeless and other special needs populations.
Fort Worth’s rapid growth has created unintended consequences for its lowest income citizens, including seniors and people with disabilities, resulting in a greater demand for assisted housing than the available supply.
| 7,022 | 6,106 |
| Total Units | Affordable Units |
| 916 | 5 |
| Market Rate Units | Mixed-Income Properties Under Construction |
Source: Fort Worth Housing Solutions, 2021.
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Source: Fort Worth Housing Solutions, and City of Fort Worth, Planning & Data Analytics Department, 2021.
Finalizing its shift from a traditional public housing model, Fort Worth Housing Solutions completed the conversion of 686 multifamily units through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program in 2020. Under RAD, housing assistance funds are moved from a traditional public housing community to units scattered throughout a city — deconcentrating poverty as a byproduct. The conversion allows housing agencies to leverage public and private debt and equity to reinvest in public housing stock and fund needed capital improvements.
The RAD program allowed FWHS to help 412 individuals and families to relocate from the 1940s-era Butler Place community to homes of their choice throughout the city, improving access to job centers, quality schools, and high-opportunity neighborhoods with amenities. Butler officially closed in December 2020. FWHS is working with HUD, the City of Fort Worth and others to determine next steps for the property.
Fort Worth Housing Solutions is increasing the supply of affordable housing in Fort Worth by partnering with private developers to build and operate mixed-income properties throughout the city. Tax credit-financing and other restricted funding sources ensure that a portion of units are leased at affordable rates, often for 20 years or more. In 2020, approximately 778 new mixed-income units were added to the FWHS portfolio. For 2021, the following projects are planned.
| UNITS | PROJECT |
|---|---|
| 174 | Cowan Place, a senior living community in Stop Six. |
| 204 | Stallion Ridge, a property in south Fort Worth. |
| 296 | The Huntley, located in east downtown in the Hillside community. |
Source: Fort Worth Housing Solutions, 2020.
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Source: Fort Worth Housing Solutions, 2020.
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Standard at Boswell Marketplace, a 128-unit mixed-income property.
In April 2020, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded Fort Worth Housing Solutions and the City of Fort Worth a coveted $35 million Choice Neighborhood Initiative Implementation Grant to seed revitalization of a historic and overlooked neighborhood, southeast of downtown Fort Worth. The funds will be spread across six phases of mixed-income, multifamily housing and are expected to leverage $345 million in additional investment for the community.
The related Transformation Plan calls for more than 1,000 units of new rental housing, infrastructure, and a community hub with an aquatics center. The hub could be funded through a future bond program and would house needed support services. Construction of the 174-unit Cowan Place senior living community, Phase I of the Initiative, is scheduled to begin in Spring 2021. The former Cavile Place public housing site will be home to the second, third, and fourth phases of residential development.
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Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Initiative Target Area
Source: Fort Worth Housing Solutions, 2021.
PEOPLE: The people plan addresses the education, economic, and healthcare needs of previous Cavile Place residents. The needs were identified through a Resident Needs Assessment and will be met with commitments from service provider partners. Former Cavile residents have the right to return to their community as new housing comes online.
HOUSING: Cavile Place closed June 30, 2020. The property’s 300 units are being replaced one-for-one and integrated into mixed-income, high-quality, and sustainable communities to deconcentrate poverty. Anchors are recommended at the corners of the neighborhood to connect properties with larger developments.
NEIGHBORHOOD: The neighborhood plan builds on the pre-existing assets and relationships in Stop Six and provides a framework for development of a neighborhood of choice — all while improving connectivity and infrastructure throughout the neighborhood.
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Stop Six Choice Neighborhood Rendering.
Each year approximately 500 volunteers across Tarrant and Parker counties count the number of persons experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. On a given night in 2020, 2,126 persons experienced homelessness in Tarrant and Parker counties.
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People
| ANNUAL TRENDS | |
|---|---|
| 5% Overall Increase | ⬚ figure |
| 43% Increase in Unsheltered | ⬚ figure |
| 26% Decrease in Veterans Homelessness | ⬚ figure |
| 12% Increase in Family Homelessness | ⬚ figure |
| 16% Decrease in Chronic Homelessness | ⬚ figure |
Source: Tarrant County Homeless Coalition (TCHC), 2020.
| Homeless | Individuals and families who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence and includes a subset for an individual who resided in an emergency shelter (sheltered) or a place not meant for human habitation (unsheltered) and who is exiting an institution where he or she temporarily resided; |
| Individuals and families who will imminently lose their primary nighttime residence; | |
| Unaccompanied youth and families with children who are defined as homeless under other federal statutes who do not otherwise qualify as homeless under this definition; and | |
| Individuals and families who are fleeing, or are attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or other dangerous or life-threatening conditions that relate to violence against the individual or a family member. |
Source: Code of Federal Regulations Parts 91, 582, and 583.
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| 22% | 19% | 39% | 61% | 6% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Family Members | Children | Women | Men | Veterans |
Sheltered homelessness has slightly decreased in the past 10 years in Tarrant and Parker counties, while there has been a rise in unsheltered homelessness.
Fort Worth’s percentage of homelessness remains less than other Texas cities.
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Source: Tarrant County Homeless Coalition, 2020.
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True Worth Place, Fort Worth, 2018.
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Source: HUD 2019 Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program Reporting, 2019.
The City of Fort Worth’s homelessness unit, Directions Home:
Directions Home has put a greater emphasis on reducing unsheltered homelessness through increasing flow at emergency shelters by funding new programs such as Diversion and Rapid Exit, which allow people to be housed with one-time assistance.
Source: City of Fort Worth, City Manager’s Office, Directions Home Program, 2020.
In 1992, the City of Fort Worth adopted a Fair Housing Ordinance with an enforcement mechanism "substantially equivalent" to that of HUD. The City's Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) Department is responsible for enforcement of the City's anti-discrimination ordinance and federal housing, employment, and accommodation laws. The D&I Department also provides:
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Percentages do not total 100% because complaints may contain multiple bases.
Source: City of Fort Worth, Diversity and Inclusion Department, 2020.
Chapter 17, Article III, Section 17-86 of the City of Fort Worth’s Ordinance No. 19374 in Housing recognizes:
“The right of every person to have access to adequate housing of his/her own choice without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, familial status, sexual orientation, transgender, gender identity or gender expression; and further, that the denial of such rights through considerations based upon race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, familial status, sexual orientation, transgender, gender identity or gender expression is detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the city and constitutes an unjust denial or deprivation of such inalienable rights which is within the power and the proper responsibility of government to prevent.”
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Source: City of Fort Worth, Diversity and Inclusion Department, 2020.
In 2001, the City of Fort Worth established a Neighborhood Empowerment Zone (NEZ) program as authorized under Chapter 378 of the Texas Local government Code. The City's NEZ program promotes the following within a NEZ location:
To facilitate the above objectives, the City's NEZ program includes incentives to developers, investors, and property owners that meet the NEZ program criteria and plan to build or rehabilitate property located in a NEZ. These incentives include:
| 63 | $1.1M |
| Number of Projects | Tax Abatements |
| $152.5M | $1: $134 |
| Private Investment Leveraged | Public/Private Ratio |
Source: City of Fort Worth, Neighborhood Services Department, 2020.
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Source: City of Fort Worth, Planning & Data Analytics Department, 2021.
Homebuyer Assistance Up to $20,000 in mortgage assistance for income-eligible first-time homebuyers within the Fort Worth city limits.
Weatherization Assistance Improves the energy efficiency of income-eligible households in Tarrant County. Weatherization program technicians perform an energy assessment to determine which energy saving repair or service is most appropriate and cost-effective.
Priority Repair Helps income-eligible Fort Worth homeowners in need of emergency or mechanical system home repairs up to $5,000.
Lead-Safe The program helps income-eligible residents protect children (under age six) from lead when they live or spend extended periods of time in a home (built prior to 1978) with lead. Services include free lead-based paint home inspections, lead-based paint hazard reduction services, and community education.
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Source: City of Fort Worth, Neighborhood Services Department, Consolidated Plan, 2019.
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Source: Environmental Protection Agency, Housing Renovation Guide, 2011.
Due to multiple health risks, especially for children, the federal government banned consumer uses of lead-containing paint in 1978. However, many existing homes that were built during or prior to 1978 have lead-based paint and could benefit from lead based paint remediation.
The City of Fort Worth’s five-year Consolidated Plan describes community development and housing priorities. From community engagement and collaboration with other entities, multiyear goals are developed based on an assessment of housing and community development needs and an analysis of market conditions.
An Action Plan and the status update of the Consolidated Plan is prepared and provided to HUD annually. The Action Plan details how funds for the following HUD grant programs (which target low- and moderate-income populations and the homeless) will be spent to meet the goals of the Consolidated Plan.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are used to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents.
HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) funds are used to create affordable housing for low-income households by building, buying or rehabilitating affordable housing.
Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds are used to provide services and housing for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless, with a goal of achieving permanent housing.
Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) funds are used for projects that benefit low-income persons living with HIV/AIDS and their families.
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Source: City of Fort Worth, Neighborhood Services Department, Consolidated Plan, 2020.
Below are the City's key housing goals and objectives, which are intended to help guide allocation of City resources to address housing needs in the City of Fort Worth.
1 Increase the number of quality affordable rental units for low-income renters.
4 Provide a range of housing options for populations with special needs, including the elderly, persons with disabilities, and persons exiting homelessness.
2 Preserve and improve existing affordable owner-occupied housing units.
5 Ensure equal housing opportunity in Fort Worth for all citizens.
3 Increase homeownership in Fort Worth
6 Continue to promote specific public incentives to encourage housing development in City designated target areas, i.e., Central Business District, Central City, Designated Investment Zones, Transit-Oriented Development, Urban Villages, etc.
The policies and strategies listed below will be instrumental in achieving the above goals:
Housing Development (Affordable and Market Rate Housing)
Housing Preservation
Increase Homeownership
Housing Needs of Low-Income Households and Vulnerable Residents
Fair Housing
Downtown and Central City Housing Development
Downtown and Central City Housing Development